Barons and castellans · Commune of Siena · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Berardenga

The Berardenga is the hill country east of Siena named after the old counts of the Berardenga, who founded the abbey of San Salvatore at Fontebona.

By 1200 the lineage has split into kindreds, some of them (the Cacciaconti, the Ugurgieri) part of Siena's nobility, and their castles at Castelnuovo, Montaperti, Montalto and Monteluco lie inside Siena's contado.

Who he is

Name
Several kindreds (the Cacciaconti and others claiming the descent); heads in 1200 not pinned
Title
Descendants of the counts of the Berardenga
Family
Berardenga
Confidence
low

it.wikipedia (Berardenga): the lineage of Count Winigis (governor of Siena 867-881) and Berardo, founders of the abbey of Fontebona; the Ugurgieri, Cacciaconti, Bandinelli and Cerretani claim descent. it.wikipedia (Repubblica di Siena) dates the Berardenga's entry into Siena's contado to 1155.

Overlord

The commune of Siena (since 1155).

What it holds

  • Castelnuovo Berardenga
  • Montaperti
  • Montalto della Berardenga
  • Asciano, held as a fief by the Cacciaconti-Scialenga counts (bought by Siena only in 1275)
  • Rights at the abbey of Fontebona (a Church record)

How it was acquired

Comital lineage from the ninth century; under Siena from 1155.

Allies and rivals

Siena; the Firidolfi to the north.

How things stand that morning

Sworn to Siena.

Wealth

Farmland and castles on the road to Arezzo.

Military

Knights serving Siena.

Threats

  • Florentine raids in the Chianti

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. 1207 (beyond 1200)Siena is defeated at Montalto della Berardenga and gives up its claims on Montepulciano and Montalcino.Depends on: a new Florence and Siena war Stopped by: peace

Places of note

  • Montaperti: Berardenga castle

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Lineage and 1155 date only.

On the map: The modern comune stands for the old Berardenga country.

Sources and studies

  1. Berardenga (it.wikipedia)
  2. Asciano (it.wikipedia)
  3. Repubblica di Siena (it.wikipedia)
  4. Siena, Enciclopedia Italiana 1936 (treccani.it)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.